As they always say, you mess with the bull, you’ll get the horns. Well somebody clearly messed with the bull, Robbie Hunter, and he gave them the horns.
When I arrived back today after a good afternoon with Jerry D, cruising in The Bomber, I walked into the greatest show of my life. I turned on the TV to catch literally the last 2 km’s of todays stage in the Tour de France. It always amuses me that while we don’t have a lot of South Africans at the top levels of international sport, the ones that are there are making a mockery of everyone.
Think Greg Minnaar, our downhill mountain biker who regularly punishes the worlds best riders. He cleans up on the world circuit. Then we have Ernie Els in golf, Ryk Neethling in swimming and now Robbie Hunter seems to be laughing his way through France, as his wild card team proceed to put on the after burners.
Barloworld is a South African sponsored team, and Robbie Hunter is our South African rider on the team. The team did not automatically qualify and were given a wild card entry into the race. Not willing to sit back and merely take in the scenery of France, they are giving it a full go in the race. They are sending it along the roads of France, and they are making myself, and a lot of other South Africans, proud every kilometre that they ride
It was only a few days ago that Barloworlds Juan Mauricio Soler won on a mountain stage. Now Hunter comes in today at great speed to get Barloworlds second stage win, and he becomes the first South African to win a stage in the Tour de France. I actually cannot believe it! It kind of gave me goose bumps watching it, as I have been waiting a long time to see him win a stage in the tour. He came close the other day, getting a second place finish.
So I sat there laughing, while wanting to cry, as our boy crossed the line in first place! He has honestly made a mockery of everyone! A South African team, a South African rider, in one of the worlds biggest bike races, and we take them to the cleaners! Quite hilarious if you ask me…
I really think that when the odds are against you, you put in your best performance. I honestly believe that Robbie wanted a win in the tour more than anyone else. He has had some criticism in the past, in letters I have read in cycling magazines, but he has just proved everyone wrong.
I’m sitting here, nearly laughing(Nearly crying) as I think how important today is in Tour de France history. I’m so emotional! It’s pretty crazy what’s going on in my mind at the moment. I wish I could just let you in for a moment, you would be on a rollercoaster ride. You would be cruising through my head and in between the many profound pieces of writing, the fountains of knowledge, the images of Jessica Alba, the pictures of Cape Town and the utter mindless stuff that I do sometimes, you would find emotions running wild caused by my man Robbie. It would be madness and I doubt you would be able to cope.
I mean, I’m hardly coping right now. It does not help that I am by myself either, no shoulder to cry on. What makes the emotions even worse is that I have just been reading the most soppy book on the planet, The Notebook. You may have seen the film. And even worse, is the fact that I watched a film this morning called The Greatest Game Ever Played. Seriously, is somebody trying to mess with my head? It’s all too much emotion! The movie follows this young golfer who ends up winning The Open, or something like that. I could not really concentrate as I tried to hold back the tears. Why the HELL was I crying during a golf movie?
I’m a mess! Seriously, all I need now is for some James Blunt to start playing and I will be crying, blowing my nose, downing a bottle of meths and I will be just about ready to call it quits on life.
I need to get a hold of myself. Yesterday I felt so good. Today things have gone remarkably pear shaped as I see myself slowly, or quickly, losing the plot. I can’t lose my composure!
Well before tears fill my keyboard up, seeping into my laptop, short circuiting the house and killing me in a blaze of glory, I shall sign out.
Oh and one other thing…Robbie, we salute you.
Sean Lloyd
Editor
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